Filter for laundry machine



Nov. 14, 1967 w. G. LANDWIER 3,352,130

FILTER FOR LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed Jan. 7, 1966 United States Patent Ofifice 3,352,130 Patented Nov. 14, 1967 Delaware Filed Jan. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 519,254 Claims. (Cl. 6818) This invention relates to a washing machine having a substantially imperforate outer fluid container and a perforate inner basket within said container for receiving Washing fluids and fabrics to be washed and more particularly to a self-cleaning lint filter associated with said basket.

In the operation of home laundry machines, the agitation of the fabrics for removing soil also removes particles of lint and other foreign materials from the fabrics which then become suspended in the washing fluid. It is highly desirable to remove the lint and other foreign materials from the washing fluid to prevent redeposition upon the fabrics being washed. Prior art in the area of lint filters includes numerous attempts at providing a filtering device or system for removing the lint from the washing fluid. A large portion of these prior art devices includes a lint filter centrally positioned within the fabric container. These devices ordinarily occupy considerable space within the basket and reduce the effective access opening into the basket. In addition, this type of filter requires frequent manual cleaning to maintain its effectiveness.

Another prior art approach to lint filtering includes an external recirculating system for removing fluid from the container and passing it through a series of conduits before returning it to the container with the filtering having been effected within a portion of the conduit or upon return to the container. This type of system requires additional expense in providing fluid conduits and auxiliary pumping devices.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved self-cleaning filter for a laundry machine wherein the filter does not occupy space within the fabric washing portion of the basket and wherein the filtering system does not require an external conduit and pump.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a compact self-cleaning filter disposed within the fluid container for filtering the washing fluid as it is recirculated through a fluid passage defined by the fluid container and the perforate fabric basket.

. It is still a further object of this invention to provide a self-cleaning filter positioned within the washing container adjacent pumping vanes of an oscillatable agitator to effect fluid flow through the filter.

The present invention achieves the above objectives in a fabric washing machine having a basket for containing fabrics while defining first and second fluid openings between the basket interior and a fluid container in which the basket is positioned. A filter is placed in one of these fluid openings. The agitator within the basket provides means for pumping the fluid into the fabric basket through the filter to remove the lint from the fluid and accumulate it exteriorly of the basket. The fluid flow continues from the fabric basket through the other fluid opening to complete the cycle of fluid flow. Upon completion of the washing cycle, the drainage of washing fluid from the fabric basket is effected in the opposite direction through the filter to remove the lint therefrom and carry it to the drain.

Operation of the device and further objects and advantages thereof will become apparent as the description proceeds and from an examination of the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment ofthe invention and in which similar numerals refer to similar parts through the several views, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a washing machine with the fabric and fluid containers and agitator shown partially in section to expose the deta1ls of the filtering system of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view, partially in section, to more clearly show an alternate embodiment of the filter element of the instant invention;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view showing the filter element and a portion of an agitator including an alternate embodiment of the pumping means of the instant invention;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view showing an alternate emaodlment of the filter element of the instant invention; an

FIGURE 5 is a view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG- URE 4 to more clearly show the filter element of FIG- URE 4.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a portion of an automatic fabric washing machine including a fluid container 10, a fabric container basket 11 nested within the fluid container, and a centrally located upstanding agitator 14. Fluid contamer 10 is non-rotatively supported within the washing machine. Fabric basket 11, however, is supported within the fluid container 10 for rotation about its central axis during the extraction process to remove fluid from the fabric basket 11 and from the fabrics contained therem. The mounting system for the fabric basket includes a mounting stem 15 for receiving the basket 11 at a central dome 16 having an opening therein, a clamping ring 18 and a clamping nut 19 threadably connected to a portion of the mounting stem 15 for clamping an inner flange of basket 11 between the mounting stem 15 and clamping ring 18 and thereby retaining basket 11 for rotation with the mounting stem 15.

i The agitator 14 is mounted on the splined portion 20 of the center drive shaft 21 for oscillation therewith durmg the washing and rinsing cycles as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

For a complete and detailed explanation of the container and basket arrangement, and mounting system therefor, reference is made to United States Patent 2,926,- 136, entitled Tub Mounting Assembly, issued February 23, 1960 to T. R. Smith et al., and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention.

. The basket 11 includes a side wall 24 provided with openings or perforations for allowing free passage of fluid between the interior of the basket and the space 25 between the basket 11 and the container 10. The basket 11 also includes a single row of holes 26 in a portion of the bottom wall 28 for permitting sand and other sediment to pass from the basket 11 into the container 10 for removal during the drainage operation.

Water supply means (not shown) are provided in the washing machine. The fluid is received and communicates between the interior of the basket and the space 25 be tween the walls of the basket 11 and the fluid container 10. The water supply means may be controlled so as to permit the fluid to rise to a predetermined level 29 and then be automatically shut off.

The centrally located oscillatable agitator 14 includes an upstanding centerpost 30, a flared base portion 31, and a plurality of agitating vanes 34 disposed about centerpost 30. Agitating vanes 34 extend upwardly from said base portion 31 and radially outwardly from the centerpost 30. The agitator 14 is oscillatable within the basket 11 for effecting a movement of the fabrics and fluid as indicated by the arrows 35, to effect a cleansing of the fabrics.

The agitator 14 is constructed and mounted on the center drive shaft 21 to create an air bell beneath the central portion of the agitator base 31. Therefore, washing fluid will rise beneath the agitator to a level indicated approximately by the dotted line 36 and will not completely fill the cavity beneath the agitator 14.

As best seen in FIGURE 1, the agitator 14 is also con structed to include a plurality of pumping vanes 38 dependingv from the underside of the agitator base portion 31. These pumping vanes 38 are disposed radially outward toward the outer periphery of the underside of the base portion 31 for effecting a centrifugal flow of water from beneath the agitator. The pumping vanes 38 extend downwardly to a position adjacent the imperforate portion 39 of the fabric container bottom wall 28.

An alternate construction for the pumping means of the agitator is shown in FIGURE 3. This embodiment includes a similarly constructed plurality of pumping vanes 40 depending from the underside of the agitator base portion 31 but in addition includes an annular shroud member 41 attached to the base portion 31 and spaced therefrom the depth of the vanes 40. In this construction, the shroud 41 is attached to the agitator 14 and is closely spaced to the bottom wall 28 of the basket 11. This arrangement effects an improved-pumping of fluid through the space between the agitator base portion 31 and the shroud 41 upon oscillation or rotation of the agitator 14.

A system for selectively driving the agitator 14 and fabric basket 11 includes the center shaft 21 and a concentric hollow shaft 44. The center shaft 21 is connected to the agitator 14 through a spline portion 20 and coupling 45 and effects oscillation of the agitator through a suitable drive system, not shown. The hollow shaft 44 is connected to the mounting stem 15 so that the basket 11 is rotated by the outer shaft 44 upon selective energization thereof. A complete and detailed description of a drive system operable for effecting selective rotation of the basket 11 and oscillation of the agitator 14 through this arrangement of the center shaft 21 and hollow shaft 44 is included in US. Patent 2,948,372, entitled Drive Assembly, issued August 9, 1960 to J. D. Goodlaxson, and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention.

As best shown in FIGURE 1, the bottom wall 28 of the basket 11 includes an opening 46 containing a filter 48 for providing a filtering fluid passage between the interior of the basket and the space 25 between the basket 11 and the container 10. This opening 46 and filter 48 therein is positioned radially inward from the pumping vanes 38 depending from the agitator base portion 31. The filter 48 maybe in the form of a cylindrically shaped member having a filter screen 54 and be retained in position by projection 49 on the filter housing 50, as in FIGURE 3. Additional filters may be spaced around the central portion of the bottom wall 28. An alternate form for the filter is a continuous annular ring 51 as indicated in FIGURE 2, and having a plurality of spaced openings containing filter screens 54 aligned with corresponding openings in the bottom wall of basket 11. This continuous ring 51 is retained in position adjacent the bottom wall 28 and is removable to permit cleaning as may be occasionally required.

The filter screen 54 is disposed so as to trap lint on its underside when fluid is pumped from the space 25 which forms a fluid passage from the perforations in side wall 24 to the opening 46. The lint is accumulated on the underside of the screen 54 during the circulation of the fluid therethrough in the upward direction but is released upon termination of the agitation and initiation of the drainage of the fluid from the container 10 to the drain 53.

An alternate construction for the filter screen arrangement is shown in FIGURES 4 and and includes a movable imperforate bottom member 55 having serrations 56 along its radially outwardly disposed edge 58. This movable bottom wall 55 is resiliently held against the side wall 5-9 of the alternate filter 57 during oscillation of the agitator 14. Fluid is allowed to flow through spaces 60 defined by the serrations, as best shown in FIGURE 5, while the lint is trapped by said serrations exteriorly of thefilter 57. Upon termination of the oscillation of agitator 14 and initiation of drainage of fluid from the container 11, the bottom wall 55 of the filter 57 is moved by fluid flow and by centrifugal action to an open position as indicated by the broken lines 61 in FIGURE 4. The back flow of fluid from the basket 11 through the filter 5'7 removes the lint from the outer portion of the filter and carries it to the drain 53.

From the above description of the elements of this invention, it may be seen that the instant invention is effective for achieving a filtering of the fluid during oscillation of the agitator and a self cleaning of the filter during the draining operation. During oscillation of the agitator 14, the pumping vanes 38 on the underside of the agitator base 31 effect a centrifugal fluid flow from the underside of the agitator and thereby effect a fluid flow from the space or passageway 25 between the basket and the container as indicated by the solid line arrows 64.

The flow from the basket 11 to the space continues through the perforations of the side wall 24 and toward the filter 43 as shown by the solid line arrow 65. A recirculating fluid flow is thus effected for continuously removing lint from the fluid during the washing or agitat- 25 ing portion of the cycle.

Upon termination of agitation and upon initiation of a draining operation, fluid flows from beneath the agitator 14 through the filter screen 54 as indicated by the broken line arrow 66 and out the drain 53 to remove and dispose of the lint collected on the underside of the filter screen 54. centrifuging or rapid rotation of the basket 24 during the draining operation accelerates the reverse flow through the screen 54 and aids removing the lint therefrom.

It is thus seen that the instant invention provides an improved filtering device which eliminates the disadvantage of space consuming filters within the fabric basket and also eliminates the costly fluid conduits required in external recirculating fluid systems.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in form and the proportion of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalents are contemplated, as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as further defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a fabric washing machine, the combination comprising: a fluid container for receiving and containing washing fluids; a perforate basket supported within said container for rotation relative thereto and including a first wall portion defining a plurality of perforations and further including a second wall portion defining at least one opening, said basket being spaced from said container for defining a fluid passage from said perforate first wall portion to said opening; agitator means disposed within said basket and engageable with fabrics contained therein; means associated with said agitator means for inducing fluid flow through said passage and said opening into said basket interior and out through the perforations of said first wall portion into said passage; and filter means associated with said opening for preventing flow of fluid-carried lint into said basket.

2. In a fabric washing machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said fluid flow inducing means is disposed within said basket adjacent said second wall portion for creating a reduced fluid pressure at said opening to effect said fluid flow into said basket interior.

3. In a fabric washing machine as defined in claim 1 and wherein said agitator means positioned within said basket includes a base portion juxtaposed said second wall portion with said fluid flow inducing means thereon juxtaposed to said opening.

4. In a fabric washing machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said second wall includes a series of spaced openings and wherein said filter means includes a removably retained housing having a series of filter elements in said openings.

5. In a fabric washing machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said filter means is mounted on said rotatable basket and wherein said filter means includes a portion movable from a closed filtering position to an open position upon rotation of said basket for releasing the lint collected at said filter.

6. In a fabric Washing machine as defined in claim 1 and further including means for effecting a back flush of fluid through said filter means to remove and dispose of lint collected thereon.

7. In a fabric washing machine as defined in claim 6 and wherein said back flush means includes means for rotating said rotatably supported basket to effect drainage of at least a portion of the fluids from said basket through said filter means to remove and dispose of lint collected thereon.

8. In a fabric washing machine, the combination comprising: a non-rotatably mounted fluid container for receiving and containing washing fluid; a perforate basket supported within said container for rotation about a vertical axis and including a first wall portion defining a plurality of perforations and further including a second wall portion defining at least one opening, said basket being spaced from said container for defining a fluid passage from said perforate first wall portion to said openings; an agitator positioned within said basket for oscillation about said vertical axis and having a base portion juxtaposed said second wall portion; pumping means associated with said base portion for effecting fluid flow from said fluid passage through said opening toward the interior of said basket responsive to oscillation of said agitator; means for oscillating said agitator; and filter means in said opening for preventing flow of fluid-carried lint into said basket.

9. In a fabric washing machine as defined in claim 8 wherein said pumping means includes a plurality of radially extending pumping vanes supported on the underside of said base portion adjacent said opening for effecting fluid flow upwardly through said opening and outwardly from beneath said agitator base portion.

10. In a fabric washing machine as defined in claim 9 and wherein said pumping means further includes a pump shroud supported on the underside of said base portion adjacent said pumping vanes to define a plurality of passageways extending outwardly from said vertical axis be-. tween said pumping vanes.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 18,280 12/1931 Kirby 68133 2,287,628 6/1942 McMahan 6818 X 2,498,734 2/ 1950 Bozanich 68148 2,720,771 10/1955 Lewis '68184 2,896,437 7/1959 Wuck et a1 68-53 X 2,961,862 11/1960 Smith 68-18 2,969,665 1/1961 Saverio 68184 2,976,711 3/1961 Smith 68-18 X IRYINQ BUNEVI CH, Primary Examiner 

1. IN A FABRIC WASHING MACHINE, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: A FLUID CONTAINER FOR RECEIVING AND CONTAINING WASHING FLUIDS; A PERFORATE BASKET SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER FOR ROTATION RELATIVE THERETO AND INCLUDING A FIRST WALL PORTION DEFINING A PLURALITY OF PERFORATIONS AND FURTHER INCLUDING A SECOND WALL PORTIOIN DEFINING AT LEAST ONE OPENING, SAID BASKET BEING SPACED FROM SAID CONTAINER FOR DEFINING A FLUID PASSAGE FROM SAID PERFORATE FIRST WALL PORTION OT SAID OPENING; AGITATOR MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID BASKET AND ENGAGEABLE WITH FABRICS CONTAINED THEREIN; MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID AGITATOR MEANS FOR INDUCING FLUID FLOW THROUGH SAID PASSAGE AND SAID OPENING INTO SAID BASKET INTERIOR AND OUT THROUGH THE PERFORATIONS OF SAID FIRST WALL PORTION INTO SAID PASSAGE; AND FILTER MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID OPENING FOR PREVENTING FLOW OF FLUID-CARRIED LINT INTO SAID BASKET. 